Smoking more likely to kill females now than in 1960s

Female smokers are more likely to be killed by smoking today than they were in the 1960s.

That's the conclusion drawn up by a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine, cited by bbc.co.uk, which suggests that modern habits - such as starting earlier and smoking more cigarettes - have dramatically increased the risk of lung cancer.

According to statistics, the first generation of women smokers in the 50s and 60s were three times more likely to die from lung cancer compared to people who never smoked.

Now, medical records from women between 2000-2010 showed they were a massive 25 times more likely to die from lung cancer.

Overall, quitting smoking at any age dramatically reduces death rates 'from all major diseases caused by smoking', according to the study.

The shocking figures could convince smokers to seek help from a number of avenues. A hypnotherapy course, for example, can help uncover a root cause for the habit as well as any other underlying issues.

Dr Michael Thun, lead researcher in the study, commented on the figures to huffingtonpost.co.uk: "The steep increase in risk among female smokers has continued has continued for decades after the serious health risks from smoking were well established, and despite the fact that women predominantly smoked cigarette brands marketed as lower in tar and nicotine."